Folding swivel chair
A swiveling folding chair is provided. The chair includes a fabric seat; a plurality of legs; a primary control tree having a first control shaft and having first, second, third, and fourth collars mounted on the control shaft. The legs are each attached to the first control collar, and, support arms are each attached to the second control collar and to the fabric seat. Elongate support members are each attached at one end to one of the legs and at the other end to the fourth control collar. Elongate brace members are each attached at one end to one of the arms and at the other end to the third control collar. The second control collar rotates about the first control collar so the seat rotates independently of the legs. The seat and legs fold into a stowed orientation.
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This invention pertains to chairs.
More particularly, the invention pertains to a folded chair which, when unfolded and deployed, has a seat that swivels independently of the legs of the chair.
Folding chairs have long been marketed. A folding chair having a seat which can, after the chair is unfolded, swivel does not appear to be readily available and to have successfully penetrated the market.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved folding chair.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a swiveling folding chair.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Briefly, in accordance with our invention, we provide an improved folding chair comprising a control tree including a control member including an elongate shaft. The shaft includes an elongate centerline; an upper end; a lower end; and, a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The control member also includes a first-control collar. The collar includes an upwardly extending body, and a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is mounted on the control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture. The control member also includes a second control collar. The collar includes a second aperture formed therethrough. The second collar is mounted on the first control member with the body slidably extending through said second aperture to slide along the shaft simultaneously with the first control member, and rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control member. The control member also includes a third control collar mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate about the upper end and the centerline. The control member also includes a fourth control collar fixedly mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The chair also includes at least three legs each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control member; at least upwardly extending support arms each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control member; a pliable foldable seat structure attached to the support arms; at least three elongate support members each operatively associated with a different one of the legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to the leg and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the fourth control collar; at least three elongate brace members each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to the arm and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to said the control collar. The shaft of the control member is slides through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the chair stowed and folded, with the fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends, and with the third control collar upwardly displaced away from the first control collard such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends; and, a second operative position with the chair deployed and unfolded, with the fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends, and with the third control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, we provide an improved method of producing a swivel chair. The method comprises the initial step of providing a folding chair (10). The chair includes a first control tree including a first control member including an elongate shaft (40). The shaft includes an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The control tree also includes a first control collar (70) including an upwardly extending body (76), and a first aperture formed therethrough. The collar is slidably mounted on the first control member with the shaft slidably extending through the first aperture. The control tree also includes a second control collar (80) with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the first control member with the body slidably extending through the second aperture to slide along the shaft simultaneously with the first control collar, and rotate about the body and centerline independently of the first control collar. The control tree also includes a third control collar (50) mounted on the upper end of the shaft (40) to rotate about the upper end and the centerline. The control tree also includes a fourth control collar (60) mounted on the lower end of the shaft (40). The chair also includes at least three legs (21, 22, 23) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the first control collar; at least two upwardly extending support arms (12, 13) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the second control collar; a pliable foldable seat structure (100) attached to the support arms; at least three elongate support members (25, 26, 27) each operatively associated with a different one of the legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to one of the legs and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the fourth control collar (60); at least three elongate brace members (30, 31, 32) each operatively associated with a different one of the arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to one of the arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the third control collar (50). The shaft slidable through the first aperture between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the chair stowed and folded; with the fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are positioned above the first distal ends; and with the third control collar upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends are positioned above the primary distal ends; and, a second operative position with the chair deployed and unfolded, with the fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends, and with the third control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collard such that the secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends. The method also includes the step of providing a test apparatus. The test apparatus includes a secondary control tree comparable to the first control tree. The secondary control tree includes a secondary control member comparable to the first control member and including an elongate shaft (40). The shaft (40) includes an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate the upper end and the lower end. The secondary control tree also includes a primary control collar (70A) including a primary aperture formed therethrough and slidably mounted on the secondary control member; a secondary control collar (80A) with a secondary aperture formed therethrough and mounted on the secondary control member to slide along the shaft of the secondary control member simultaneously with the primary control collar; a tertiary control collar (50A) mounted on the upper end of the shaft of the secondary control member; and, a quaternary control collar (60A) mounted on the lower end of the shaft of the secondary control member. The test apparatus also includes first and second downwardly extending legs (21A, 23A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the primary control collar; a first sleeve (100) slidably mounted on the first leg; a second sleeve (200) slidably mounted on the second leg; first and second upwardly extending support arms (12A, 14A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to the secondary control collar; a third sleeve (102) slidably mounted on the first arm; a fourth sleeve (103) slidably mounted on the second arm; first and second elongate support elements (106, 107) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of the first and second legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to a different one of the first and second sleeves and a second proximate end pivotally attached to the quaternary control collar; and, first and second elongate brace elements (108, 109) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of the first and second arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to a different one of the third and fourth sleeves and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to the tertiary control collar. The lengths of the first and second brace elements and the first and second support elements are adjustable. The shaft of the secondary control member is slidable through the primary and secondary apertures between at least two operative positions, a first operative position with the test apparatus stowed and folded, with the quaternary control collar (60A) upwardly displaced toward the primary control collar such that the second proximate ends of the first and second support elements (106, 107) are positioned above the first distal ends of the first and second support elements, and with the tertiary control collar (50A) upwardly displaced away from the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends of the first and second brace elements (108, 109) are positioned above the primary distal ends of the first and second brace elements; and, a second operative position with the test apparatus deployed and unfolded, with the quaternary control collar downwardly displaced away from the primary control collar such that the second proximate ends of the first and second support elements are generally positioned level with or below the first distal ends of the first and second support elements, and with the tertiary control collar downwardly displaced toward the first control collar such that the secondary proximate ends of the first and second brace elements are generally positioned level with or below the primary distal ends of the first and second brace elements. The method also includes the step of manipulating at least one in a group consisting of the first and second support elements, of the first and second brace elements, and of the first, second, third, and fourth sleeves to determine a desired length for each of the support elements, a desired length for each of the brace elements, a desired position for each of the first and second sleeves along a different one of the first and second legs, and a desired position for each of the third and fourth sleeves along a different one of the first and second arms. The method also includes the steps of providing in the folding chair support members (25, 26, 27) each generally equivalent in length to the desired length for each of the support elements; providing in the folding chair brace members (30, 31) each generally equivalent in length to the desired length for each of the brace elements; pivotally attaching the distal ends of the support members to the legs of the folding chair at positions equivalent to the desired position of the first and second sleeves on the legs of the test apparatus; and pivotally attaching the distal ends of the brace members to the arms of the folding chair at positions equivalent to the desired position of the third and fourth sleeves on the arms of the test apparatus.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,
Chair 10 includes a control member illustrated in
Collar 50 is mounted on a washer (not shown) that seats in a groove (not shown) in the upper end of shaft 40 or is otherwise mounted on shaft 40 such that collar 50 is free to rotate about shaft 40 and the centerline, indicated by dashed line C′, of shaft 40 but can not slide along shaft 40, i.e., collar 50 is permanently located at the upper end of shaft 40 and cannot slide downwardly along shaft 40 toward the lower end of shaft 40. The distance between an opposing pair of apertures, or pivot points, 54 and 54A (
Collar 60 is permanently mounted on the lower end of shaft 40, does not rotate about shaft 40, and can not slide upwardly along shaft 40 toward the upper end of shaft 40. The shape and dimension of collar 60 is presently equivalent to that of collar 50, although that need not be the case.
As is described below in further detail, shaft 40 slides upwardly and downwardly through apertures formed in the first 70 and second 80 collars.
Collar 70 is depicted in more detail in
In
Collar 80 is depicted in more detail in
In
In
Support member 25 in
Brace member 33 in
Bushings 16 to 18 are, as illustrated in
The arms 11 to 14 and the legs 20 to 23 are illustrated in the deployed unfolded configuration in
In use, chair 10 is, as noted, in the unfolded deployed position in
The length of shaft 40 is indicated by arrows L1 in
In an alternate embodiment of the invention collar 50 is fixedly attached to and rotates with shaft 40, and collar 60 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 40 such that the lower end of shaft 40 rotates within collar 60. In this embodiment of the invention, when the arms 11 to 14 of the chair swivel, shaft 40 and collars 50 and 80 simultaneously rotate with arms 11 to 14 while collars 60 and 70 do not rotate.
When chair 10 is in the deployed configuration of
Determining the proper sizes of chair components such that the folding chair would operate properly was a difficult problem. Changing the size of only one component could affect other components and make the chair not operate properly. Consequently, the test apparatus of
Arms 12A and 14A have distal ends 12B and 14B, respectively. When the chair of the invention is in the deployed configuration of
Legs 21A and 23A have distal ends 21B and 23B, respectively. When the chair of the invention is in the deployed configuration of
Collars 100, 101, 102, 103 slide along legs 21A, 23A and arms 14A, 12A, respectively. Each collar 100-103 is detachably secured in a desired position with a set screw.
Tube 40 is slidably adjusted through collars 70A and 80A in the directions indicated by arrows F. The configuration illustrated in
The lengths of each link 108 and 109 is adjustable, either by inserting links 108, 109 of different lengths or by making links 108 and 109 that telescope to different lengths. The length of each link 106, 107 is adjustable, either by inserting links 106, 107 of different lengths or by making links 108 and 109 adjustable.
The position of collar 50A on tube 40 can be varied by sliding collar 50A along tube 40 to a desired position and then detachably fixing collar 50A in position with a set screw.
The position of collar 60A on tube 40 can be varied by sliding collar 50A along tube 40 to a desired position and then detachably fixing collar 60A in position with a set screw.
If desired tubes 40 of different lengths can be utilized in the apparatus of
The purpose of the apparatus of
Tube 40 can not, in accordance with the invention, be overly long because collar 50A must be spaced apart from and positioned beneath the seat 100 when the chair 10 is in the deployed configuration of
- 1. First positioning collar 60A at a selected point on the lower end of tube 40.
- 2. Positioning collars 100 and 101 at selected points on legs 21A and 23A.
- 3. Varying lengths of links 106 and 107 are tested until legs 21A and 23A open a desired distance when the test apparatus is in the deployed configuration of
FIG. 9 and until legs 21A and 23A close to a storage configuration that is generally comparable to that illustrated inFIG. 2 or that is otherwise desired. If the length of links 106 and 107 can not be varied to achieve the desired result, the collars 100 and 101 are repositioned to different points along legs 21A and 23A and different lengths of links 106 and 107 are tested. Links 106 and 107 correspond to members 26 and 27 inFIG. 1 . - 4. After an acceptable length is achieved for links 106 and 107, collar 50A is positioned at a selected point on the upper end of tube 40.
- 5. Collars 102 and 103 are positioned at selected points on legs 14B and 12B.
- 6. Varying lengths of links 108 and 109 are tested until arms 14A and 12A open a desired distance when the test apparatus is in the deployed configuration of
FIG. 9 and until arms 14A and 12A close to a storage configuration that is generally comparable to that illustrated inFIG. 2 or that is otherwise desired. If the length of links 108 and 109 can not be varied to achieve the desired result, the collars 102 and 103 are repositioned along arms 14A, 12A and different lengths of links 108 and 109 are tested. Links 108 and 109 are generally equivalent to members 30 and 32 inFIG. 1 . If collars 108 and 109 can not be positioned so that links of a particular length can be identified to position arms 14A, 12A a desired distance apart in the deployed configuration ofFIG. 1 and at a desired located in the storage configuration, then the process is continued by repeating steps 1 to 6. Since links 108 and 109 must necessarily be shorter than links 106, 107 so that the top of tube 40 will be lower than the bottom of the seat of chair 10 when chair 10 is in the deployed configuration ofFIG. 1 , determining the length of links 108 and 109 allows less room for error since a small sliding movement of tube 40 produces a greater displacement of arms 14A, 12A than of legs 21A, 23A. Positioning collars 102 and 103 closer to collar 80A permit links 108 and 109 to be shortened. During the adjustment process, the location of collars 50A and 60A on tube 40 can also be adjusted. - 7. After desired lengths for links 106, 107, 108, 109 are determined; after the desired positions for sleeves 100, 101, 102, 103 are determined; and, after the desired positions of collars 50A and 60A are determined chair 10 can be assembled. The desired length determined for each of links 106 and 107 corresponds to the length that is used for members 25 to 28. The desired length that is determined for each of links 108 and 109 corresponds to the length that is used for members 30 to 33. The position of each sleeve 100, 101 on its respective leg 21A, 23A corresponds to the position at which the distal end of each member 25 to 28 is pivotally attached to a leg 20 to 23, which position is, after the proximate end of each leg 20 to 23 is pivotally secured to collar 80, a defined distance along each leg 20 to 23 from collar 80. The position of each sleeve 102, 103 on its respective arm 14A, 12A corresponds to the position at which the distal end of each member 30 to 33 is pivotally attached to an arm 11-14, which position is, after the proximate end of each arm 11-14 is pivotally secured to collar 70, a defined distance along each arm 11-14 from collar 70.
In another embodiment of the invention, the test apparatus of
Claims
1. A folding chair comprising
- (a) a primary control tree including (i) a first elongate control shaft, said control shaft including an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate said upper end and said lower end, (ii) a first control collar including an upwardly extending body, and a first aperture formed therethrough, said collar mounted on said control shaft with said control shaft slidably extending through said first aperture, (iii) a second control collar with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on said control shaft with said body slidably extending through said second aperture to slide along said control shaft simultaneously with said first control collar, and rotate about said body of said first control collar and about said centerline independently of said first control collar (iii) a third control collar mounted on said upper end of said control shaft to rotate about said centerline, and (iv) a fourth control collar mounted on said lower end of said control shaft;
- (b) at least three legs each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said first control collar;
- (c) at least three upwardly extending support arms each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said second control collar;
- (d) a pliable foldable seat structure attached to said support arms;
- (e) at least three elongate support members each operatively associated with a different one of said legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached said one of said legs and a second proximate end pivotally attached to said fourth control collar;
- (f) at least three elongate brace members each operatively associated with a different one of said arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to said one of said arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to said third control collar;
- said control shaft slidable through said first aperture between at least two operative positions,
- (g) a first operative position with (i) said chair stowed and folded, (ii) said fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward said first control collar such that said second proximate ends are positioned above said first distal ends, (iii) said third control collar upwardly displaced away from said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends are positioned above said primary distal ends, and
- (h) a second operative position with (i) said chair deployed and unfolded, (ii) said fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from said first control collar such that said second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below said first distal ends, and (iii) said third control collar downwardly displaced toward said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below said primary distal ends.
2. A method of producing a swivel chair, comprising the steps of:
- (I) providing a folding chair (10) comprising
- (a) a first control tree including (i) a first elongate control shaft (40), said control shaft including an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate said upper end and said lower end, (ii) a first control collar (70) including an upwardly extending body (76), and a first aperture formed therethrough, said collar slidably mounted on said control shaft with said control shaft slidably extending through said first aperture, (iii) a second control collar (80) with a second aperture formed therethrough and mounted on said control shaft with said body slidably extending through said second aperture to slide along said shaft simultaneously with said first control collar, and rotate about said body and centerline independently of said first control collar, (iii) a third control collar (50) mounted on said upper end of said control shaft (40) to rotate about said centerline, and (iv) a fourth control collar (60) mounted on said lower end of said control shaft (40);
- (b) at least first, second, and third legs (21, 22, 23) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said first control collar;
- (c) at least first, second, and third upwardly extending support arms (12, 13) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said second control collar;
- (d) a pliable foldable seat structure (100) attached to said support arms;
- (e) at least three elongate support members (25, 26, 27) each operatively associated with a different one of said legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached said one of said legs and a second proximate end pivotally attached to said fourth control collar (60);
- (f) at least three elongate brace members (30, 31, 32) each operatively associated with a different one of said arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to said one of said arms and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to said third control collar (50);
- said control shaft slidable through said first aperture between at least two operative positions,
- (g) a first operative position with (i) said chair stowed and folded, (ii) said fourth control collar upwardly displaced toward said first control collar such that said second proximate ends are positioned above said first distal ends, (iii) said third control collar upwardly displaced away from said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends are positioned above said primary distal ends, and
- (h) a second operative position with (i) said chair deployed and unfolded, (ii) said fourth control collar downwardly displaced away from said first control collar such that said second proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below said first distal ends, and (iii) said third control collar downwardly displaced toward said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends are generally positioned level with or below said primary distal ends;
- (II) providing a test apparatus comprising
- (a) a secondary control tree comparable to said first control tree and including (i) a secondary elongate control shaft comparable to said first control shaft, said secondary control shaft including an elongate centerline, an upper end, a lower end, and a central section intermediate said upper end and said lower end, (ii) a primary control collar (70A) including a primary aperture formed therethrough, and slidably mounted on said secondary control shaft, (iii) a secondary control collar (80A) with a secondary aperture formed therethrough and mounted on said secondary control shaft to slide along said secondary control shaft simultaneously with said primary control collar, (iii) a tertiary control collar (50A) mounted on said upper end of said secondary control shaft, and (iv) a quaternary control collar (60A) mounted on said lower end of said secondary control shaft;
- (b) primary and secondary downwardly extending legs (21A, 23A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said primary control collar;
- (c) a first sleeve (100) slidably mounted on said primary leg;
- (d) a second sleeve (200) slidably mounted on said secondary leg;
- (e) primary and secondary upwardly extending support arms (12A, 14A) each including a proximate end pivotally attached to said secondary control collar;
- (f) a third sleeve (102) slidably mounted on said primary arm;
- (g) a fourth sleeve (103) slidably mounted on said secondary arm;
- (h) first and second elongate support elements (106, 107) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of said primary and secondary legs and including a first distal end pivotally attached to a different one of said first and second sleeves and a second proximate end pivotally attached to said quaternary control collar;
- (i) first and second elongate brace elements (108, 109) each having a length and operatively associated with a different one of said primary and secondary arms and including a primary distal end pivotally attached to a different one of said third and fourth sleeves and a secondary proximate end pivotally attached to said tertiary control collar;
- said lengths of said first and second brace elements and said first and second support elements being adjustable,
- said secondary control shaft slidable through said primary and secondary apertures between at least two operative positions,
- (g) a first operative position with (i) said test apparatus stowed and folded, (ii) said quaternary control collar (60A) upwardly displaced toward said primary control collar such that said second proximate ends of said first and second support elements (106, 107) are positioned above said first distal ends of said first and second support elements, (iii) said tertiary control collar (50A) upwardly displaced away from said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends of said first and second brace elements (108, 109) are positioned above said primary distal ends of said first and second brace elements, and
- (h) a second operative position with (i) said test apparatus deployed and unfolded, (ii) said quaternary control collar downwardly displaced away from said primary control collar such that said second proximate ends of said first and second support elements are generally positioned level with or below said first distal ends of said first and second support elements, and (iii) said tertiary control collar downwardly displaced toward said first control collar such that said secondary proximate ends of said first and second brace elements are generally positioned level with or below said primary distal ends of said first and second brace elements;
- (III) manipulating at least one in a group consisting of (a) said first and second support elements, (b) said first and second brace elements, and (c) said first, second, third, and fourth sleeves to determine (d) a desired length for each of said support elements, (e) a desired length for each of said brace elements, (f) a desired position for each of said first and second sleeves along a different one of said primary and secondary legs, and (g) a desired position for each of said third and fourth sleeves along a different one of said primary and secondary arms;
- (IV) providing in said folding chair support members (25, 26, 27) each generally equivalent in length to said desired length for each of said support elements,
- (V) providing in said folding chair brace members (30, 31) each generally equivalent in length to said desired length for each of said brace elements;
- (VI) pivotally attaching said distal ends of said support members to said legs of said folding chair at positions equivalent to said desired position of said first and second sleeves on said primary and secondary legs of said test apparatus; and
- (VII) pivotally attaching said distal ends of said brace members to said arms of said folding chair at positions equivalent to said desired position of said third and fourth sleeves on said primary and secondary arms of said test apparatus.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 30, 2009
Date of Patent: Sep 25, 2012
Patent Publication Number: 20110156449
Assignee: Revolve, LLC. (Gilbert, AZ)
Inventors: Michael Obolewicz (Gilbert, AZ), Craig A Hills (Tempe, AZ)
Primary Examiner: Peter R. Brown
Attorney: Tod R. Nissle, P.C.
Application Number: 12/655,401
International Classification: A47C 4/42 (20060101);